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October 01, 2008

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Michelle Malkin and World Net Daily have made a lot of noise today about the fact the Gwen Ifill, the moderator of Thursday's VP debate, has a new book coming on Inauguration day about Barack Obama and the politics of race -- it's now leading on the front of Drudge.

"I am stunned….the campaign (actually both) should have been told before the campaign agreed to have her moderate. It simply is not fair -- in law, this would create a mistrial."

But one didn't have to go the lengths of oppo research to find out about a book that was hiding in plain sight on Amazon and the Random house website.

Not to mention, Ifill discussed it with Howard Kurtz last month in the Washington Post, in the only profile she's done before the debate. (And I'd imagine someone in the campaign should have read it).

To the extent she can carve out any spare time, Ifill is working on a book called "Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama." She focuses on the Democratic nominee and such up-and-coming black politicians as Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

"We're very lazy when we think about race in this country," Ifill says. "We try to put it in a box. It's Jesse versus Al, or Jesse and Al versus everyone else," she says, referring to Jackson and Sharpton. "We love simplistic conflict. There's a whole group of people who have Ivy League degrees and immense accomplishments who actually benefited from the things their parents were fighting for."

Regardless, the story's getting major play on cable news, especially Fox.

This morning with Bill Hemmer, Fox analyst Juan Williams spoke admirably of Ifill as a journalist but admitted that "it looks like she has some investment" in the outcome of the election, and that "there's a perception problem." The FoxNews.com headline: "VP Debate Moderator Pens Pro-Obama Book."

I think Malkin and other critics have a right to raise questions about whether Ifill should be moderating, but at the same time, it's not as if the veteran PBS journalist has been keeping the book under wraps until now. It's also a logical question to ask whether an Obama book would sell better or worse depending on the outcome of the election. I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say that if Obama's sworn in on the Jan. 20 pub date, a book with "Obama" in the title will sell more copies.

Legitimate questions, indeed. So why is this coming up less than 36 hours before Palin and Biden hit the stage?

UPDATE: A spokesperson for PBS's NewsHour said that Ifill is en route to the debate in St. Louis. When asked whether Ifill might disclose that she's writing this book during the debate, the spokesperson said he had no knowledge that she would, and declined to comment further. I also have a call into the Commission on Presidential Debates, and will update if they have a comment.

It's coming up because it really is an issue. If you think Gwen Ifill is okay for the VP debate, why don't we let Rush Limbaugh do the next presidential debate? Once again, the left-wing media is upset that it is being exposed. Ifill should not moderate the debate and let someone else who is not so blatantly biased be the moderator.

Because Americans deserve to know that, should Biden emerge with an obvious advantage over Palin, it will be because the moderator asked questions in a "gotcha" manner at Palin but continually tossed softballs at Biden, which is liberals' fault generally, and Obama's fault in particular. Or, it is an angle the GOP failed to discover until now, ripe for exploitation; or rather an angle the GOP failed to exploit until now, just discovering a convenient, face-saving card to play should Palin perform as expected. It is the exactly the sort of non-issue that a party inexplicably devoid of issues needs in order to remain newsworthy. Credibility might be useless as political currency these days but it's still important, even to us reliable GOPers that are finding McPalin increasingly less McPalatable. Thanks much, GOP.

I'm an Obama supporter and I wish this came out and she was recused from her job as moderator. Why? Because now the McCain campaign can blame a poor performance by Palin on the fact that the moderator is in the tank for Obama. They will parse all of her questions and try to find something in order to divert away from the reality of this woman being wholly unqualified. She is doing a disservice to female politicians. She makes them look air heady and unready. She is no Hillary Clinton.

It's coming up because the McCain campaign is either looking for a built-in excuse should Palin do poorly in the actual debate, or even an excuse for a possible exit from this debate should Palin continue to perform disasterously in her debate prep. Ifill's alleged "bias" is a convenient way to explain away, or to avoid, a train wreck by Palin.

The book is not news. The McCain campaign should have known about it before they gave the OK. Maybe McCain can "cancel" once again. He's all about fighting, making faces and cancelling these days. It's sad.

If anyone is passionate about either of these candidates they are blind, deaf and dumb. VOTE THIRD PARTY! Obama/McCain are actually the same candidate, they agree on almost everything. They say the same things, they are awful. The are for no change. Let's vote for a third party candidate and work to restore the relevance of the constitution.

There is such hypocrisy on the left is laughable. They want to stifle debate on the talk radio, fly the biggest jets and fret over energy, talk about earmarks and tried to add them to the bailout bill. Where do you start. If this person was writing a conservative book about McCain the democrats would have filed a lawsuit. That is their base - scum bag lawyers and elitist journalists.

Since they both have to answer the same questions, I fail to see how the moderator can throw "gotchas" to Palin and "softballs" to Biden. Still, I agree that I would probably remove Ifill as moderator and replace her with someone who doesn't have a book coming out about one of the participants. A moderator should avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

I love Gwen and think could be unbiased (I am voting for McCain). Nontheless, it is a conflict of interest and she should step aside. I mean if she comes off as partisan (even unintentially) then it will be a huge problem, probably for both sides.

If she had any class, she'd excuse herself. There has to be someone who is either not working for Obama, or writing a book about him. This so called "debate" format is a joke anyway, it's nothing but a glorified press conference.

should we judge all media heads before they report or moderate an event or just pull out the ropes and start preparing the tree before the story takes place? Another example of McCain camp not doing their homework or vetting. So what happens when McCain is the Pres.? Do we have the same level of preparation and crying wolf? If Gwen railroads the debate, fine, debate her performance, otherwise, pull your hoods off for the time being and wait for democracy to take the stage.

There have been some dumb responses in this thread. Its an issue because Republicans are already finding excuses for Palin doing poorly. Ifill is a black woman and of course her reputation is being questioned because she wrote a pro-Obama book. Never mind the fact that she moderated the VP debates last time and did a great job. The stupidity of the party has no limits, never mind the fact that Biden and Palin will be answering the same questions.

Tom Brokaw is clearly a supporter of McCain and he will be moderating the next debate. I guess it is even then. As news people, I do expect them to be somewhat balanced but no moderator is ever completely impartial.

At a time when most Americans feel their political institutions - including the press - are failing, this only adds fuel to the fire that the media is working in concert to elect Obama. Her conflict is clear as day; she should have never agreed to do it; the commission should not have allowed it to happen.

If Ifell was writing a book called "Politics and Age in the Age of McCain" or "Politics and Gender in the Age of Palin", nobody would raise an eyebrow. Or if she wrote a book about white politicians. MCain's campaign is using this as a racist and sexist scare tactic. Ifell has proven to be a very fair, but tough, journalist throughout her career and to suggest she would slant her questions to promote her book is ludicrous. The debaters are Biden and Palin - a woman and a white guy. This is a non-issue. The comments about Limbaugh are also a non-issue. Limbaugh is a purely partisan hack, not a journalist.

Have to give it to the McCain camp for there vetting genius. I call for Palin to skip the debate to get to the bottom of this. Maybe drop off the ticket in protest. Rush would be a great interviewer - as long as he doesn't let her talk. Can't put lipstick on this one.

As far as stupidity goes "Posted By: M" clearly takes the cake. Why do you Obama supporters turn everything into a racial issue? Gwen Ifill is wonderful and I could give a dam about race (I am white). She stands to make money on her book if Obama is elected. Regardless of everything else she needs to recuse herself. You Obama people don't seem to understand that if she doesn't she could very well end up HURTING his campaign. Sheesh.

regarding M's post: No one brought up the fact that she was a black woman except you! No one thought it was an issue! As to your assertion that she did a greaat job in the last debates, she was in fact criticized for her role in that debate. Lastly, the format is just not about specific questions but perceptions (eye rolling, condesending looks etc. i.e Dick Nixon or more recentely good ole Charlie Gibson!

What makes it a "pro-Obama book?" It seems to be about politics and race, both within the black community and within the larger society. Gwen Ifill works for the last really good broadcastnews operation in the country (News Hour), and whatever her point of view, she is fair and courteous. Everyone had to know about this in advance, including the commission, so it shouldn't matter. What matters is how even-handed she is in her questioning, which can be readily observed by viewers.

In any discussion of business ethics executives are advised to avoid the "appearance of" conflict of interest whether the conflict of interest is real or imagined. I would have thought journalists would be held to the same standards. Whether Ms. Ifill can be impartial in the debate or not, she will face criticism for the "appearance of" conflict of interest. For her own journalistic reputation, she should step aside. Has she considered that the "appearance of" conflict of interest would be enough to hurt her own candidate?
Do the ethical thing. Step aside.

Again all comments are partisan. When in fact, Ifill, who I had once admired, should not be the moderator. You can blame both parties for not having known about the book, but Ifill herself should have pointed out her bias and conflict of interest when asked to be the moderator. It is just as sneaky as Donna Brazile, Nancy Pelosi, Dean, and Harry Reid espousing their neutrality when in fact they were Obama supporters from the beginning. I am no longer a democrat because of the deceitful leaders of my former party. We are told that women only voted for Hillary because she was a woman (not true)but it is admirable to be a black and partial to the black candidate. Hogwash.

i just learned she was moderator 2 days ago and i can tell you that anyone wanting to know the level of her ability to be fair need to go and research some very recent interviews she did at PBS.
it caused me to not watch that particular news show on PBS.
this woman i had seen before but not like i saw her in that interview wherein she discussed hillary and obama. SHE WAS A DISGRACE.
she was an obvious obama supporter and whenever she phrased questions regarding HRC it was with disgust.
I CAN TELL YOU SINCERELY, THAT SHE ROLLED HER EYES AT ONE POINT.
SHE MADE UP HER FACE AT ONE TIME.
HER WORDING WAS OBNOXIOUS. AT one point she blatently asked as she rolled her eyes, "so sheHRC thinks this is the way for him to even offer her something?"
AS SOON AS I REALIZED SHE WOULD BE DOING THE MODERATING, I SAID TO MYSELF, "WHAT?!"
i had planned to watch anyhow but even moreso now altho this is one woman i will never watch on PBS again if i can help it.

the american people need to know if there is a conflict of interest - For an unbiased debate for VP, gwen to step away -
if not, all credibility will be lost -
if she were releasing a book on the positives of palin, gwen would also be asked to step away -
this is unacceptable to the country and the candidates -

A distraction by the Mcsame camp. It does not matter who asks this dumb ass lady a question. She is clueless. She is not ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Stop pretending America. Seriously would you gamble on your life as you do on ours. Guess the question is yes. Mcsame shows again he doesn't use the computer and cant use google. Dumb arses.

That would be like Obama contesting a moderator because the moderator is white 36 hours before the debate. More McCain Spin, stunt,drama. Man up McCain, your girl would have problems with Mickey Mouse asking her questions.

"Why is this coming up 36 hours before.." It's called fake outrage and diverting from the issue at hand - Palin is woefully unprepared for the big leagues.
Posted By: Dave | October 01, 2008 at 10:11 AM
---------------------------
we are all entitled to our choice of candidate, but in your heart of hearts dont you think you could be fair AND back your canidate?
are u trying to convey to us you see nothing wrong here?

TYPICAL UNETHICAL & BIASED CONDUCT BY THE MEDIA.
It is not that she has written a book favorable to Obama --- it is that there is a 'perception of a conflict of interest' --- she is using the debate to further the sales of her book !! THAT SUCKS.!

Lfills "racism" tendancies are the acceptable side of the two edge sword - like 9 out of 10 blacks voting for the black guy. The "Bradley effect" side of the racism sword is somehow more despicable - go figure

if u want fair, simply go to pbs.org and see her interviews that involve this election.
it is clear she is WRONG for this debate. obvoiusly she has a degree in journalism, but her professionalism on several occassions was missing in action whenever she spoke about obama.
go see for yourselves.
pbs.org and search her name and obama.
SHOCKING is putting it mildly.

News is news isn't it? I didn't realize there was a statute of limitations on reporting.
A better questions might have been what in the world was the Commission on Presidential Debates thinking, or why was this not investigated and reported by the "mainstream" media earlier... too busy analyzing belly bumps perhaps?

Maybe I'm missing something, but nowhere in Calderone's article (aside for assertions by the pro-McCain crowd) does it say that this book is pro-Obama. Why wouldn't we assume that it is fair and balanced? Ifill is a solid journalist who plays it right down the middle. Rather than embark on an exercise to read Ifill's mind, let's judge her by the questions that she actually asks in the debate.

To her point, she's absolutely right. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are all we usually see when it comes to discussing race. Let's see all the minority scholars, business people and representatives on both sides who have been laboring for years and who have way fresher takes on the issues than Sharpton and Jackson. It's up to the media to put them forward because the public is starving for these new people, especially the non-politician (business and academics) ones.

I think the real issue continues to be the "turn a blind eye" attitude towards the media on ANYTHING resembling fair coverage. Every news issue reflecting slanted journalism is dismissed as "not news." Journalists have done more rationalizing of their coverage than I've ever seen. The "So what?" attitude of journalists towards Ifill's obvious bias is incredulous.

These republicans are a joke! They cry about everything that doesn't go their way. Someone comments states that Ifill moderating is just like Rush moderating..how simply minded is that. Rush is a stone bigot/a racist...Ifill is not!
But I believe since the republicans is making such a big deal about it even though other sthat moderate where clearly republican....Ifill may need to step down. You know how those republicans are.. they will blame Ifill when Palin does the usual..open mouth & insert foot!

"Why is it coming up now?" is irrelevant. The fact that Ifill is in the tank for Obama is also hardly news (who isn't within the mainstream media???). What is relevant and deeply troubling is that she has an economic vested interest in the success of the Obama campaign given that her book will hit the newstands on Inauguration Day. It is an appaling Conflict of Interest and she should recuse herself from moderating the debate

Obviously - a large percentage of the commentors have not actually seen Ms. Ifill conduct herself on the Leher Newshour or in previous debates - she is a professional and has both the bearing and class to moderate a debate. The notion that because she is writing a book about Mr. Obama puts her in the class with Rush Limbaugh - speaks to a level of willful ignorance as it relates to Ms. Ifill's long career - perhaps more time should be spent getting information and making decisions based on that information than simply responding to whatever is posted onto the internet.

I vote for Lou Dobbs as moderator. I just found out that Gwen Ifill was going to moderate about 5 days ago. But like Michael Calderone said, "a book that was hiding in plain sight". The key word being "hiding".

Did anybody actually think Fox and the neocon crowd wasn't already looking for ammunition in case Palin falls on her face? Mr. Magoo could have seen this was the first place they would go. Since the repugs label any reporter or writer who dares question anything they say as part of the "elite" media, they're going to accuse Ifill of playing "gotcha" if she simply asks Palin her name. And their not protesting this until the last minute means they have a guaranteed out. Of course they're gonna let Ifill moderate. And Friday morning, Rove and the Steve Douchey's will be talking about how in the tank Ifill was for Obama, instead of the fact Palin never answered a question. I'm sure they're already planning it. What I genuinely hope, if as Amy Pohler suggested a couple of weeks ago, that the media grow some balls, and they rally around Ifill. Now and after. McCain's campaign is sinking like Goldman's sach, and you can expect what Hillary threw at Obama during the primaries to be cotton candy compared to what's coming. Coming from the "honorable" McCain.

Palin is certainly worthy of alot more respect then Ifill.
To have this person Managing the Debate, when she is so obviously endorsing the Obama ticket is beyond the pale and typical democratic tactics.

Dave, would it be "fake outrage" if the Dems complained about a moderator being pro McCain 36 hours before a debate. Of course not. Like uncovering an old George Bush DWI on the eve of the election in 2000.
But let's be objective here, there is no objectivity in the American media anymore. Everyone has a side and takes it. The press and TV, mostly, take the left wing side, which gave rise to the right wing talk radio to give the other side a voice.
If Ifill is unfair or partisan in her approach, it will show and we can all make up our own minds.
My pre-debate take: This will be a battle between a plagiarist/buffon and a decent woman who is in no way qualified for the job she seeks. It's a good thing most of us vote for the president, not the vice president.

The problem is...again the McCain campaign agreed to Iffel. Them not knowing about the book (if you can believe that) shows more McCain campaign incompetence. Unlike CNN, MSNBC, and FOX; Iffil and Lehrer aren't obsessed with giving you their opinion through-out the new cast. The more logical conclusion is that McCain has known all along about Iffil's book and is attacking the moderator now in case Palin bombs. Have you ever seen Iffil on Washington Week or The News Hour? I'd take an hour of PBS news vs 24 hours from all three cable network outlets. If McCain wants to replace her...kind of late...but okay...it obviously has the appearance of a potential conflict. However, I would still argue the McCain camp has known about this and complaining about it last minute is more strategy...um...or tactic.

Fox News correspondent Brit Hume is scheduled to moderate the Vice Presidential debate tomorrow night. He has a book titled "McCain and Palin: Recapturing the American Spirit" due out January 4th, 2009. How would the KosKooks like that? Not much at all methinks.

I believe this was a DECISION by the McCain campaign to ignore this issue for a time and then bring it up in an attempt (familiar strategy?) to qualify FAILURE on their part (via Palin) to discuss grave issues in an intelligent, well-thougt fashion. McCain ISN"T a MAVERICK....he's RECKLESS!! BIG DIFFERENCE and a very, very dangerous trait in this world of 2008. PLEASE THINK about all this...our future, and that of our children and grandchildren, depends on the outcome of this election

Hey Calderone, if Ifill's book is an open secret, why didn't you report it? A moderator with a direct, substantial financial interest in the success of one campaign isn't a neutral moderator. Are you too stupid to realize such a blatent conflict of interest or are you also in the tank for Obama? Isn't a stacked debate a topic Politico would find of interest?

This debate is now less about Palin and more about the media, causing some people to outright reject watching it and that's great news for Palin. Even better, if Ifill is actually pulled, it would be the type of "victory" the McCain campaign desperately needs to remain somewhat relevant. It's a win-win for Republicans.

It's coming up now because Ifill should have disclosed it. It seems to me that a true journalist should ALWAYS be about full disclosure, whether or not the info is readily available or not. But it's apparent the Gwen Ifill is NOT a true journalist. Just another media hack unable to do the right thing. It is truly sad that the American media has lost its soul.

DC Media Elite In The Tank For Their Leader Obama > I Am Shocked To Find Gambling Going On Here< Here Are Your Winnings Liberal Dems ... Shocking... Even This Blog > What's The Big Deal She Wrote A Book For NOBAMA > She JustWANTS Him To Win > No Big Deal ? WOW !!

If Iffil is so obviously in the tank for Obama, I guess the McCain camp are a bunch of fools for AGREEING to her. Stop acting like this is some trick. The book was never a secret. Iffil has been around for a long time. This isn't some conspiracy.

There is a difference between a partisan hack and a professional. Gwen Ifill has shown herself to be the latter. The McCain campaign had the right of refusal on who moderated and they approved of Ifill. She moderated the last VP debate and I don't think she influenced the outcome. Do you? I believe Pub's are desperately grasping for any defense point to prep for the disaster they know is coming in oh, about 32 hours.

Once again, Obama the commie-hack-friend of Ayers and Rev Wright is trying to put the fix on the VP debate. They questions will be leaked to Biden. The same ones who criticize Gov Palin, laud the wonderous stupidty of Lord Obama as he travels the 57 states professing his "muslim faith" - "er, uh, uh ah, ah, ah, er, my Christian faith". Gov Palin is far more qualified than the marxist Obama. Not to mention the brilliant Biden who claims Pres FDR calmed the nation with a televised address as things crashed in 1929. At least Biden doesn't "oo, ah, ur. ur, ah" as he struggles to put a sentence together. Biden speaks eloquently -
starts off his speaches by saying "four score and seven years ago...." A plagerist and a communist haven't impressed me with their brillance. Perhaps Dan Rather could host the vp debate more honstly than Gwen whats-her-name.

I can't help wondering if, when the campaigns reps got together with the PBS folks to set up the format and participants, if Ifill or any of the PBS guys mentioned the book to McCain's representatives.

Fake outrage. Gwen's book is not about Obama. Gwen's book is about black politics and happens to include Obama because how can you talk about black politics or rather blacks in politics without including Obama. Fox news is in the tank for Mccain. Didn't Sean Hannity interview Palin. Isn't that a conflict of interest. Much ado about nothing. Gwen is a fair and balanced journalist. She does not have to nor should she recluse herself.

.
(From Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia).
Gwen Ifill is an African-American and the managing editor and moderator for PBS. Gwen Ifill is the author of "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" --- a pro-Obama book --- that raises questions of her suitability as debate moderator for the Vice Presidential debate.
On October 2, she will moderate the first Vice-Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. Questions were raised regarding Gwen Ifill when it was revealed that she has a "financial interest in an Obama victory", due to her "pro-Obama book" which is titled "the Age of Obama". Ifill was called upon to disclose the upcoming Obama book and her "advocacy" to the viewers of the debate.
IS THIS TYPICAL UNETHICAL CONDUCT BY THE MEDIA?
AN APPARENT CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST?
GWEN IFILL HAS "a financial interest" in an Obama victory, due to her "pro-Obama book" DUE FOR RELEASE on Inauguration Day, 2009.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. !!!!!

Not two inches away from this article (on my screen) is another asking pundits if we have a leadership crisis. Here is a nearly perfect conflict of interest and Ms. Ifil does not feel compelled to remove HERSELF from the podium. Somehow, she is able to justify her own position. No personal responsibilty at all. It is not up to McCain to remove her, it is up to Ifil to gracefully bow out, with appropriate apologies.

Tom Browkaw is a McCain lover & he is moderating the last debate. Gwen Ifill is a very established journalist & I really doubt that she would put her career and legacy as a journalist on the line for a VP debate. This fake outrage won't cover up the fact that Palin is ill-prepared.

This IS a problem. I was going to suggest here that she ask the candidates about this, from Democracy Now! on 9/22:
ARMY UNIT TO DEPLOY IN OCTOBER FOR DOMESTIC OPERATIONS ***
Beginning in October, the Army plans to station an active unit inside the United States for the first time to serve as an on-call federal response in times of emergency. The 3rd Infantry Division?s 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent thirty-five of the last sixty months in Iraq, but now the unit is training for domestic operations. The unit will soon be under the day-to-day control of US Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command. The Army Times reports this new mission marks the first time an active unit has been given a dedicated assignment to Northern Command. The paper says the Army unit may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control. The soldiers are learning to use so-called nonlethal weapons designed to subdue unruly or dangerous individuals and crowds. ***
Now, if Ifill asks some tough questions, she'll be accused of working for Obama. Perhaps PBS should acknowledge a perceived conflict, let Lehrer conduct the moderation, and let him ask all the tough questions that need answering...

.
(From Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia).
Gwen Ifill is an African-American and the managing editor and moderator for PBS. Gwen Ifill is the author of "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" --- a pro-Obama book --- that raises questions of her suitability as debate moderator for the Vice Presidential debate.
On October 2, she will moderate the first Vice-Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. Questions were raised regarding Gwen Ifill when it was revealed that she has a "financial interest in an Obama victory", due to her "pro-Obama book" which is titled "the Age of Obama". Ifill was called upon to disclose the upcoming Obama book and her "advocacy" to the viewers of the debate.
IS THIS TYPICAL UNETHICAL CONDUCT BY THE MEDIA?
AN APPARENT CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST?
GWEN IFILL HAS "a financial interest" in an Obama victory, due to her "pro-Obama book" DUE FOR RELEASE on Inauguration Day, 2009.
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. !!!!!

Fox and the Republicans are now trying to use this book as a reason to cancel the debate between Palin and Biden. It is so very obvious that they know that Palin is in deep trouble. This book has been around, and it is not about Obam per se, but on several of the breakthrough African American politicians from all over the country. This is a sham by the Republicans trying to cry foul when no fould has been made. They knew about the book before Ifill was chosen as moderater, so to howl at this stage of the game is disengenous at the very least. Ms Ifell is know for her fairness and excellent journalism. Where is the indignation from the Republicans whne Tom Brokaw was offering old polls that showed McCain leading? This is a smokescrren once again to take peoples eyes off the ball. Don't fall fot it!

How funny. She's writing a book about racism in this country being stuffed in a box and how a discussion on race has become taboo, and our friends over at FAUX "news" AKA McCain HQ, want to put it even deeper in the box. And instead of talking about racism, they'd rather speak about how unfair it is to speak about racism. That's what they do.

Ifill is a black political reporter and has written a book about African-Americans in politics.
This makes her biased, how exactly?
The people who take issue with this are already voting for McCain anyway. She'll have 30% of the elctorate watching her under intense scrutiny already because of her race. You really think she's going to throw it to Biden?
Come on.
Ifill is a skilled journalist. She'll figure out how to handle the new Fox witch hunt.

Simply amazing the bold-faced lack of shame from the left.
"I'm shocked, shocked," feigns Claude Rains in Casablanca when he 'learns' that there is gambling taking place at Rick's.
The fact that libs are allowed to drive endangers individuals. That they are allowed to vote endangers the nation.
God help us all.

While I agree that Gwen Ifill's book does give the McCain campaign & conservative bloggers a talking point, it'll be interesting to see them try to paint Ms. Ifill as a liberal counter-point to Rush Limbaugh successfully for the UNDECIDED voter. If Palin is unable to successfully convey her ideals or gravitas of knowledge to the american people, then I still believe she'll lose votes irregardless of who is moderating.

If Gwen's book is not about Obama, why is "Obama" in the title? I suppose you people would think it OK if Gwen had writen a book entitled: "Breakthrough: How women can be empowered in the Age of Palin", and then claimed it wasn't about Palin? You Obama zombies would have popped a vein with your outrage. But keep up the "it's not about Obama" crap...we're just NOT buying it. But then, we actually have a fully functioning brain to work with.

I Look At These Things This Way >
Very Simple > Who Does Gwen Want To Win?
What If Gwen Wrote A Book On Palin?
See How Easy An Open Secret Can Be!
Mike,Oh Buddy Oh Pal Of Mine >
Mike Can You Post Your Answers For All To See > Yea I Didn't Think So !

To respond to the comment that Limbaugh is a political hack, yes that is true, he is partisan and makes no bones about it. That is the problem with Ifill is that she pretends to be a jounalist when she is a political hack.

********. In a court, an attorney would be disbarred if he did not request a judge to recuse himself from the bench if there was any knowledge of a person, interest, or entity which could become prejudicial. I have seen malpractice suits where counsel will ask a sitting judge on a case to withdrawal if the judge has a jury panel, but also is a patient of the physician being litigated. If McCain had no knowledge of this, just ask Leher to host it. He was neutral and fair in the debate at ol Miss. There is no way this woman from Baltimore, where 75% of the race is black, is not going to be pulling for Obama. More importantly, just her color undertones the fact 99% of blacks are pulling for Obama, which is incredibly racist. Recuse yourself Ifinn, you know you should not be doing this debate, as you cannot claim you are impartial. How strange Oparah claims she can't compromise herself by having Palin on, and Ifinn writes a book about the rising black stars and is set to be a moderator. Hell, in litigation, such a conflict would demand a withdrawal from a mediator, as the position must be seen as neutral. Time to get her off the stage and have Leher substitute.

If the McCain campaign out and its surrogates put in as much time on policy as it does finding distractions they might be doing better. Ifill wrote a book with Obama as the jumping off point but more than that what the hell can a moderator do in the types of debates we have these days that could help or hurt either person.
An in the pocket host from Fixed news couldn't help Gov Palin.
Tiresome, tiresome!!!

BLOGGERS: Call them racist for suggesting that an experienced, PROFESSIONAL, intelligent black woman can't fairly moderate a debate and publish a book about race in politics at the same time. DO IT! DO IT NOW!

Has anyone thought for a moment that the publisher has a great deal of say about the title of a book? Title the book to grab your attention and to show up on Amazon and Google searches. The book is about current African American poiticians, and how race plays a role in their public lives. If the title had been "Race and Politics after the age of Al and Jesse" the content would be the same. But it would not sell well because there are more searches for "obama" than "al" or " jesse" or "Race and Politics".

By now it should be obvious that race-baiting for the benefit of the extreme right (of which Palin is clearly a part) is Fox News' #1 source of profit. The Mc-Insane campaign has probably known about the book for some time, but wanted to save any opportunity to blame the so-called media elite (i.e. literate people) for their mistakes and losses. Even prominent conservatives know that Palin is a joke and her selection underscores McCain's erratic style. Ifill is an accomplished, competent journalist who is capable of impartiality AND documenting an important shift in American politics all at the same time.

If the Obama campaign was smart, they'd encourage Ifill to step aside. This benefits Palin enormously. She can't lose. If she does well, she did so despite the left wing media conspiracy. If she does poorly, it was because of the left wing media conspiracy. Win-Win for the Republicans.

Ifill's profile there describes her as a longtime correspondent and moderator for national news programs and includes her service as moderator of the 2004 debate between Edwards and Cheney.
However, there's no mention of her upcoming book. Nor does the website for the Commission on Presidential Debates, which is organizing the meetings of the candidates, mention her book.

In the subterfuge of the liberal media, it's not the responsibility of the "journalist" to be unbias, impartial, and upfront about an obvious financial conflict of interest. It's the responsibility of the McCain campaign for not being aware that Ifill has no credibility or integrity. A sad admission that you can not take journalistic credibility or integrity for granted anymore.
Oh, and by the way, I'm not "outaged". I like the odds of one windbag and one blowhard against Palin. Your Dear Leader Obama is not going to be cool with Sir Biden's performance.

She lost all credibility. These are people and they vote one way or the other, I get it...but to be putting out a book about the glory of Obama AND heading a debate just does not sit well. Let a Republican pundit moderate the last presidential debate if this does not matter.

I've got to say that this issue coming up now just verifies for me how sloppy the McC camp is at due diligence. Whining about the results of not doing one's homework may work in the lower grades but at some point we all have to take responsibility for our own actions.
Regardless of the right or wrong of the situation the utter lack of competence in vetting the moderator on the part of the McC campaign should cause some to consider recent experience with other incompetent and lazy political teams.
I suspect that Ifill, as the professional journalist she is, will be more than even handed. Unfortunately even the appearance of bias is going to mar the debate.

I think right-wingers are doing what they usually do, e.g. projecting their own shortcomings onto other people. Perhaps they recognize that if they were the debate moderator, they would bend over backwards to give an advantage to the candidate they prefer. Consequently, they assume Ms. Ifill will do the same. In a debate where both candidates will have to answer the same questions, right wingers' arguments are reduced to pronouncements about "eye rolling". As the saying goes, your misconceptions are not Ms. Ifill's problems. I am familiar with her work and I find her to be an outstanding objective journalist. The comparison with Limbaugh is ridiculous. Limbaugh admitted on the air after the 2006 elections that he "carries water" for the GOP. Gwen Ifill is a fine choice for moderator. Every person has political views. If you disqualify Ifill as a moderator, then you disqualify anyone who plans to vote next month.

We can all agree that most journalists are in the tank for Obama anyway. Why should it matter, then, who moderates the debate? If McCain and Palin agree to debates where the moderator is a member of the press, it is likely the press agent and questioner gets tinglies up their legs for Obama. This is no big deal.

Here is a summary of the book from Amazon:
It's not about Obama, or in the tank for him.
In THE BREAKTHROUGH, veteran journalist Gwen Ifill surveys the American political landscape, shedding new light on the impact of Barack Obama?s stunning presidential campaign and introducing the emerging young African American politicians forging a bold new path to political power.
Ifill argues that the Black political structure formed during the Civil Rights movement is giving way to a generation of men and women who are the direct beneficiaries of the struggles of the 1960s. She offers incisive, detailed profiles of such prominent leaders as Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and U.S. Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama, and also covers up-and-coming figures from across the nation. Drawing on interviews with power brokers like Senator Obama, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and many others, as well as her own razor-sharp observations and analysis of such issues as generational conflict and the "black enough" conundrum, Ifill shows why this is a pivotal moment in American history.

McCain comes from a world where lying is sanctioned. For example, "this conversation did not take place," or, "I will deny I said that to you."
He has no honor. He will climb every mountain to smear Ifill or anyone else.
If the republican incompetents are going to object weeks after accepting Ifill, they need to do it today.
My guess is they will ask for a postponement.

Ifill's book will sell better if Obama is elected...so will Obama's, and McCain's will sell better if he is elected. But none of these people is in it for the royalties...McCain in fact donates his to charity.
At bottom, the question is whether Ifill is a fair, fact-motivated journalist. The answer, clear to anyone who has been paying attention, is YES.

McCain vetting the moderator? Are you Obama zombies completely lacking in morals and ethics? It is up to the journalist to disclose ANY potential or perceived conflicts of interest. That's what you do when you know right from wrong. But then knowing right from wrong requires a soul.

Since this women has a financial interest in seeing Obama win (How many 19-0 books sold after last year's superbowl?), she has more than just a political reason to make Palin look bad. She needs to remove herself.

Oh please, do you really think the McCain camp didn't know? What a perfect opportunity to either:
a) back out if Sarah isn't doing well with her debate preparations
b) or dominate the news cycle with this "outrage" right up until the debate to garner sympathy for Palin

A question for all you Obama zombies defending what is without a doubt a clear case of conflict of interest: does the book include such notable black politicians as Michael Steele? Ken Blackwell? JC Watts? Edward Brooke? Janice Rodgers Brown? Clarence Thomas? Eldridge Cleaver? Larry Elder? Roy Innis? Alan Keyes? Rod Paige? William T. Vernon? Walter E. Williams?....didn't think so...nope, no bias there, none at all (rolling eyes at the stupidity of all this).

They should take out ifill as moderator and the questions she has already sent to the vps.
new moderator, new questions.
this way we get to see how ready palin is without getting the quastions and answers 1st, and FOX cant cry.

This has been no secret. When the McCain advance team approved of Ifill as the moderator of this debate there is no reason that they should not have vetted her first. If the McCain camp wants to continue to be lazy about their vetting processes, they deserve what they get. And come November, they will, because had they vetted Palin someone more qualified would be debating Biden.

I already Called PBS, letting them know that Ifill, continues to be moderator my family and myself will boycott the debates,and stop my contribution. We have been members for many years. Ifill will be biased, how can she not be. This is totally unfair. I would hope MCCAIn would not let the debates go on, until some unbiased person would moderate.

Oh boy, here come all the right-wing loud-mouths about the "liberal media conspiracy." Gwen Ifill is one of the most respected journalists working today. We all know she'll be objective. But now the GOP has something else about which to get their underwear in a bunch. How does a Republican get through the day...?

I recall NO debates allowed on Fox, because cry baby Libs didn't want real questions asked. Turn about is fair play, but all we want is a neutral moderator, not to control free speech like the Libs would demand.

It isn't even a matter of knowing or not knowing that the book was coming out. It's that Ifill was chosen as a moderator in the first place, given her obvious bias. Can you imagine if the moderator were a Republican who had written a glowing on McCain or Palin due to come out on Inauguration Day? The Democrats would be boycotting the election, or at the very least demanding a different moderator. But that's the way it rolls. Republicans are expected to accept everything under the umbrella of "bipartisanship"and Democrats are held under no such similar standard.

Shhhh...If this came out in the mainstream press only 36 hours prior to a most likely highly watchd debate Ms. Ifill has the probability of selling numerous more books, free publicity, and lot's moe income from book sales.
Ohh wait,

You gotta be kidding me. The Obama people are incompetent and stupid. how could they allow this woman to be the moderator? I laugh at them. McCain can now blame anything on the moderator. And this Iffill person has on morality, I wouldn't be capable of being appointed moderator when I am so openly for one of the groups. It shows no ethics. Really shameful.

CHensley: Do you honestly think that Ms. Ifill, with millions upon millions of people watching, would show any bias? Come on now. If you are a PBS donor then you must have at least a modicum of interest in intellectual honesty. Be honest, are you that worried about a breach of objectivity? Or is this just election-time political posturing?

Doesn't matter who moderates the debate. This election is over. You cannot run against and win over a person that has "followers and believers" this is how a democratic country slides into socialism. There comes along a man that talks and makes great speeches and causes women to pass out in the crowd and then he gets power and noone questions him until its too late. Ronald Reagan could rise from the grave and maybe, just maybe get 35% of the vote. Obama will be our next president and ruler. The only thing I can do is pray for our country.

Obama camp wouldn't allow a moderator that is writing a Pro McCain book one that would make a lot more money if McCain won the election moderate a debate, then this article tries to place the onus on McCain's camp to have reached Ifill, sorry she should have mentioned and asked if both campaigns were O'k with it, why do liberals in the media think including Politico think they can be as biased as they want and still be considered impartial judges, time for American's to start calling these journalists what they are, liberals who have liberal perspectives, just reading Politico in the last month feels like I'm reading Obama press releases.

Boo hoo. Wah wah wah. Stop crying. Ifill is a professional, let her do her job. Palin can't answer questions from Hannity, so who cares who moderates. She's a joke, just like the campaign McCain is running. The problem is, it isn't funny, because there is a chance she will be in charge. God help us - vote Obama.

Two words:
TOM. BROKAW.
Seriously. You all act like reporters don't have partisan views. You're telling me the book is the issue? It's pretty obvious an African American female is probably voting Democrat... gee, maybe THAT's the real problem with the McCain camp. Her book has been public knowledge for a while, it seems.
I trust Gewn Ifill to do a fine, fair job and ask hard questions.

I went to the Commission on Presidential debates and typed "conflict of interest" in their search box and this is what came back:Search results:
"We're sorry, but your search did not find any matches."
Gwen Ifill should have disqualified herslf by now. She is demonstrating a total void of ethics.

No, mike, the question is not why critics didn't raise this issue beforehand. the question is why the debates commission picked a political partisan to moderate the debate. they either didn't apply due diligence or they didn't care. bad news, either way.

It seems that there is an assumption that a black woman writing a book about race, at a time when the politics of race has entered a new generation, is incapable of writing a book with journalistic detachment and must be schilling for the black guy. The relevance of the entire field of journalism is predicated upon a suspension of one's opinion in favor of a thoughtful investigation of a subject. Gwen Ifill and the entire PBS News Hour team do this better than just about any other source. Whether Obama wins or not, the state of race in politics has changed. Matt Bai's NYT article investigates this too: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/magazine/10politics-t.html

This is a Win/Win for the GOP believe it or not.
If Palin wins the debate it is DESPITE an obviously partisan moderator from the Obama camp. If she loses it is BECAUSE of an obviously partisan moderator squarely in the Obama camp. The McCain camp understands this perfectly.

This is just a bunch of bs used to distract the fact that Palin is perceived to not have a grasp of facts to qualify her as a vice presidential candidate. What is going to be the republicans' excuse if it wasn't Gwen Ifill. Anything to lie, cheat and steal your way to another presidency. You republicans are the most unpatriotic group of disgraces in this country. Always putting party before country. You can all go straight to hell.

This is a strange world we occupy. A Vice-Presidential candidate is defended for her evident lack of knowledge about the issues, and a journalist is criticized because she might be too knowledgeable about the subject of the debate she's moderating. Would we rather have a moderator who'd never researched or written anything about American politics? Really!

First, the topic of the book is race in politics and unavoidably Baraack Obama is therefore a central character, but as is pointed out not the only one. Second, Gwen Ifill is one of the finest journalists working today without any hint of extreme bias in her reporting. Finally, shut up, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden need to demonstrate an ability to speak knowledgably and articulately about both the national and international issues facing us today. Ms. Ifill's prior history as a debate moderator would suggest she will remain unbiased. Given Mr. Biden's history of longwindedness and Ms.Palin recent inability to utter a coherent sentence on either national or internatioanl issues I would suggest that both candidates may be their own worst enemies.

Given her performance in the last VP debates, the better question is why a second time at bat? Her bias showed then, as it has many times in her career. It's hard to understand why PBS, a clearly ideological operation, is given two of the moderator slots. Not a single journalist of even middle of the road leanings gets a chance to question the other side. Why Republican campaigns continue to agree to these debates is beyond me.

The content of the book has not been released. If the book has some glowing reportage or analysis of Obama than I would find it troubling. Again it is all about perception. I'm am still surprised that Matthews and Olberman, two of the biggest well known Obama supporters on cable, moderated the Democratic debates. There were obvious problems with how the questions were asked and too whom and how many.

If Ifill had once ounce of juegement, she would excuse herself but that will not happen because she wants to sell more books and wants Obama to win. Why McCain/Palin agreed to this after listening to her 4 years ago is beyond me. Having this is like having Hannity conduct the second debate between McCain and Obama. If you can't win something on your own merit, you simply find one of a million biased "journalists" to do it for you. Maybe we could have Rush do it? That seems fair . . . right? In this forum, everything should be done to remain un-biased and CNN should step in.

I am begging the Obama supporters to reconsider your unconditional support of this man. Imagine what your reaction would be if Bill O'Reilly was moderating one of the debates. You'd be furious and rightfully so. But in this case, with the advantage going to Obama, you take cheap shots at Sarah Palin. What if McCain had been associated with a man who bombed the Pentagon? What if McCain went to a church that was about white supremacy? What if McCain's house had been partially financed by a man from Syria who's now in prison? Please think about what you're about to do to this country. The man you support is a myth. When he doesn't live up to it as president you'll be the only ones heartbroken, but we'll all be hurting because of the damage done to the country. I pray I'm wrong, but I fear that I'm right.

I see the phony outrage by Obama's supporters.
But you know how Obama has been preaching about 527 adds and Swift Boating? You know how he would never do it. Always ask McCain to stop any 527 add against himself.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2008, 12:08 AM
Liberal PACs Ready Attack Ad on McCain?s Health
By JIM RUTENBERG
Two liberal groups ? one of them directed by a brother of the Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean ? will begin running a graphic attack advertisement Thursday morning raising questions about Senator John McCain?s health. Showing vivid and unflattering images of the fresh scar that appeared on Senator McCain?s face immediately after his last operation for melanoma skin cancer eight years ago, the commercial ends with a screen headline that reads, ?Why won?t John McCain release his medical records?? (Mr. McCain, 72, did invite a limited group of reporters to inspect more than 1,100 pages of his medical records in May, though he gave them only a three-hour window in which to review the documents.)
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/liberal-pacs-ready-attack-ad-on-mccains-health/?pagemode=print
And then we have this.
A Loophole To Go Negative
By Taegan Goddard | September 9, 2008 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Today we learned that the Obama campaign has quietly embraced 527 groups -- organizations set up via a loophole in the campaign finance laws that can raise and spend nearly unlimited funds. Of course, Obama cannot ask anyone to form these groups; the campaign can only communicate its intentions through the media, hints and winks.
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/politicalinsider/2008/09/a-loophole-to-go-negative.html
Well that's just Obama isn't it?

You people are crazy and scared to death of your own shadow.
McCain is desperately, as usuall, trying to confuse, divert, dramatize and traumatize the American people.
Can you imagine the panic and chaos he will cause if he gets in office? We wont know what he will do next. Don't we have enough problems? Do we really need all of Sarah Palin's baggage too?

I am sure those files of info Gwen tripped on contained Joe Biden research whereby she will offer up softball questions to Biden which will make him look like a genius and by extension, help Obama. The fix is in no matter how she goes about it, fluffing up Biden or passively sabotaging Palin. I can't take this debate 100% seriously now. Sucks.

I think it is pretty safe to assume that Ifill will unfairly slant questions in the direction of the Democratic ticket. Sad, since I was looking forward to seeing a true debate but now am forced to watch one side of the political spectrum fight for nothing more than a fair turn. Talk about cheating.

Here's the phone number to contact to offer your complaint regarding Obama backer Gwen Ifill moderating the VP debate on Thursday night -
Commission on Presidential Debates: 202-872-1020.
And here?s the e-mail address of Janet H. Brown, Executive Director of the Debates Commission: jb@debates.org
info from Michelle Malkin's website -
Too bad we don't have a media capable of doing their job for both candidates, not just Obama - This could be the year our democracy turns into a socialist state if Obama gets elected - people better start waking up before it's too late...!!

Follow the MONEY.
so...
"mccain knew"
or
"why is this coming up now?"
these provide a more relevant angle to cover than say,...
"moderator has financial interest in outcome of debate"
give me a break, mike!

"So why is this coming up less than 36 hours before Palin and Biden hit the stage?"
This is one of the most ironic questions I have seen in this entire silly season. The obvious answer is because you, Michael, the ostensible reporter, never reported it. We have now reached the height of journalistic insanity by having a reporter scolding a campaign for not finding a scoop while blithely ignoring that it is his job not the McCain campaign's to do so. It is apparently taken as a simple truth that news against Obama needs to be dug up by McCain and McCain only.

Lets explain it as if you were five years old...It has nothing to do with Ifill's political leaning and her ability to be politically unbiased. It has everything to do with the fact that if Obama wins she will make more money. She will make more money. Obama losing will take food out of the mouths of babes. A five year old could "get this".

"If Ifill was in the process of writing a book about Palin, the left would be screaming for her to recuse herself. End of story. Replace Ifill with Lehrer."
Please... if she wrote a book on Palin it would be welcomed by the left as I am sure it would expose her as the fraud she is.... I say someone in the tank for McCain...such as anyone from Fox, moderate so they can't cry foul when she tanks...

i agree that there should be an unbiased moderator during the speech. but l wonder how many republicans that are mad about this said anything about the saddleback debate. what candidate do you think 90% of evalgelicals vote for

Um - I'm a "regular, Jane six-pack american" and I've known about this books for months. But then again, I know how to READ, which is apparently something that Steve Schmidt and others in McCain's campaign do not do. This is simply the latest distraction in a long line of distractions, a pathetic attempt by the McCain campaign to get Palin out of the VP debate. We are not stupid. If she pulls out, and if the McCain campaign continues to play this non-issue, it's over. Palin and McCain will be exposed as the cowards they are.

I am most likely voting for Obama (unless McCain finds a new VP), and I think the Republicans assertions here are correct. Gwen Ifill needs to recuse herself from this debate. Its best for everyone, including the Democrats. Sorry Gwen, maybe in four years you'll get another shot.

I wonder whether a moderator with conservative credentials who has a book coming out in January about the fantastic John McCain and other prominent up and coming Republicans would ever be chosen to moderate a debate?.....You can stop laughing now.

The Saul Alinsky strategy...ends justifies the means. If Obama wins we will see this over and over...no Change here.
I'm just glad it came out at all...who's covering this....I know if the tables were turned Obama would be squealing like a pig.

Why not have Michelle Obama do the quetions? Same differance. This whole media is a joke. I think it's going to back-fire big time. People are listening now. Time for Obama to open up and get asked the REAL qusetions too!

why does everyone assume that an Obama win means more $s... If he loses, there will be outrage and backlash because of his race (rightly or wrongly so) and controversy/outrage sells books as well as anything.

Why is this story in the back pages of Politico? Why did this NOT come up until now? Why, if this is an "open" secret, did CBS, NBC, or ABC, totally ignore the obvious conflict of interest? Ifill should be replaced, period. We need an honest, open, and fair debate, both in appearance and reality. My tax dollars are funding her "journalistic fairness", now where do I get my refund?

Geez what a shocker Ifill supports Obama. Fall in line like the rest of the ninety something percent of your brothers and sisters. For a moment I thought this wasn't about RACE. Well here's a book about it.

I am absolutely sure that Ms. Ifle's book is an Obama hit piece designed to throw the election McCain's way.....not.
Ms. Ifill must stand up before the debate tomorrow night and inform the viewing public that she will benefit financially from a BHO presidency.

This is old news and shame of the McCain campaign for looking for any "OUT" they can find to save Palin from making a fool of herself Thursday night. Gwen Ifill has spoken about her book on several occasions & her guest have interjected the fact she is working on a book, and this has been for months on her Weekend Review show. So if the McCain's paid staff overlooked this fact then thats their fault. The Repubs should be ashamed of themselves BUT I forgot that they have no shame!

She was not particularly sharp at the Cheney-Edwards debate in 2004. I don't think she is the best for this job.
When you add in that she is or is perceived to be pro-Obama, it's definitely a net plus for Palin and the Republicans. A nice little tidbit for them to beat to death over the next week instead of talking about the economy. Well done Commission on Presidential Debates.

Good grief people are dumb. No one on this post has read the book to know what's in it but somehow they know she's in the tank for Obama. Too bad all the Republican clairvoyants didn't use their powers for good when they voted twice for Bush.

While I don't think it would be appropriate for Ifill to moderate an Obama-McCain debate, I don't see any reason she can't do a Biden-Palin debate. And finally, when is somebody on the McCain campaign going to learn how to use Google? Are these people really unable to vet anybody? If so, they deserve what they get (as they've learned with Sarah Palin).

the words from the first moderator saddleback. Engle has declined to endorse a candidate and says he has his reservations about McCain. But he saves his harshest rhetoric for Obama, whose beliefs, he said, "counter my convictions and the convictions of masses of believing Americans."

I'm not really certain why anyone would be shocked that a black journalist would have an interest in and investigate the link between civil rights success and the current growing group of ambitious and successful black political leaders. The book is not an Obama biography, nor is it an analysis of Obama's policy, it is an analysis of the environment(relative race consciousness, etc.) in which Obama's success is operating and how other political leaders are also benefitting from that environment. It may or may not be a leap to assume that Ifill is an Obama supporter, but the book provides neither confirmation nor rejection of that premise. Frankly, however objective ANY journalist may claim to be, they all have a stake and an investment in a particular candidate. All of them.

Look, this book was out weeks and weeks before both camps agreed to her being the moderator. It was no secret. Now they want to complain about it.....lol.....
I guess they have a problem vetting folks over there in the McCain camp.....

Americans truly a brutish and ignorant lot. Ifill is a consummate professional at her craft, she moderates debates almost nightly on the Newshour, which is the only truly journalistic program remaining on tv. But let's forget that. Let's even ignore the glaring fact that both candidates will be asked the same questions and that her book was clearly known to all parties. Was does the act of penning a book that examines a particular issue that deals more heavily with one of the candidates mean that she is "pro Obama"? It couldn't possibly be a scholarly examination of a salient issue, oh no. We have all become so hyper partisan and ignorant at the same time. A scary combination, to be sure. I look forward to the day when the great majority of people do not worship mediocrity.

If the McCain camp had been paying attention to the rest of the world, they would have know about the book.
If Palin does not fair well in the debate, we all know that someone will be the blame. They may even try to blame Nancy's speech again since. Stranger things have happened, right!!!

IFILL NEEDS TO DROP OUT - THE FIX IS IN ONCE AGAIN. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!! LEFT WING MEDIA PROPAGANDA MACHINE TAKING OVER EVERY ASPECT OF THE RACE.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP INTO A DICTATORSHIP RUN BY OBAMA.
THE MEDIA IS SO BIAS AND NOW THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION IS IN ON THE CORRUPTION.
GET IFILL OUT NOW
PULL FUNDING FOR PBS
WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR PBS???????
IT IS A JOKE......IF THEY CANNOT MAKE IT IN THE MARKET THEN SHUT THE DAMN THING DOWN.
GET IFILL OUT NOW>>>>>

To suggest that Biden has received the questions is as likely as suggesting that the only way Palin can win is to have the answers fed to her through " a bug in the ear" during the debate, or perhaps she may appear psychic, as McCain did during the Saddleback Forum where he knew the answer before the question on the Supreme Court Justices was asked.

What does being an author of a book has to do with the debate???? Ms. Ifill should posed the same questions to each candidate and allow them time to respond -- so, what is all of this crap that Calderone and Matt Drudge are trying to drum up? If Ms Ifill has to recuse herself as moderator, then Tom Brokaw needs to recuse himself too because he is in the tank for John McCain!!!!! Let's play fair now -- if you know what I mean....

But Gwen consulted with Michelle Obama, and Michelle felt it wasn't necessary that Gwen expose her conflict of interest, her greed motive in getting Obama elected, and her misuse of racial politics. Gwen knows the white man is evil and Michelle felt that she could put her superior intelligence aside and grovel at the Reverend Wright school of interracial dialogue.

Give me a break!! Gwen Ifill WILL be the moderator and she WILL do an excellent job -- just like she did the last time she moderated the VP debate. By the way, since when does the 'politics of race' only pertain to the Obama-McCain race?
Race has been a prevailing underlying theme of presidential politics since Barry Goldwater. Republicans have been playing race politics for decades, which is why blacks won't join their party or vote for them. Why would black folks want to partner with a party that is led by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity? Call this for what it is: a naked attempt to intimidate Ifill. They are trying to mitigate or negate any attempt on Ifill's part at being a serious journalist, hoping she will feel the pressure and go out of the way to prove them wrong. Don't fall for it, Gwen!

Michael Calderone: What is standard practice for journalist in situations like this? Should she have disclosed this to both campaigns? Or is the decision to disclosure a discretionary matter, in your opinion?

Please update again.
A story mentioning this book was in the conservative Washington Times on July 23 - even before she was selected as a moderator. Of course the McCain campaign new about this. Here is a quote from the newspaper story -
"We have an awkward history about how to talk about race in the nation and in newsrooms," says Gwen Ifill, senior correspondent for PBS' "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" and author of "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama," slated for publication early next year.
"I don't see any hesitancy about addressing it," Miss Ifill says, "but I do think we are all searching for the language."

I wonder how many of the people posting here have actually seen her on PBS' The News Hour. She is one of most intelligent, thoughtful, and even-handed interviewers out there. Since she is on PBS, she doesn't have to compete for ratings with sensational questions. If Palin does badly, her supporters will blame the easiest target. Sadly, it will be Ifill.

It would have been news if you found an objective liberal MSM type who wasn't writing a book of poetry about their God, Obama. The media is in the tank for Obama, they have ceased to have a brain, and the only good thing that will come from Obama's win (hello busload full of homeless from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Illinois, etc. on their way to vote in Ohio) is that the media will lay off more radical leftists because of declining advertising and circulation. I am sure Obama's truth squad of prosecutors and sheriff's will make every home in the country buy Ifill's book, on the punishment of 2 years in prison.

You conservative hypocrites nees to stop your fake outrage. McCain's camp approved her...looks like they vetted her as much as they did Palin - so DEAL WITH IT!!!!!
No one in Obama's camp is freaking out over Broka - who is so in the tank for McCain that he got anchors removed from MSNBC hosting gigs.
Face it - you've lost the election

Today's lib talking points are that it doesn't matter who moderates a debate...but then, why is every moderator a smug lib? Why isn't Bill O'Reilly chosen by Obama to be the moderator? Why were the Democrats all afraid of a primary debate sponsored by FNC?

Let's remove all the posts above except for those from people who have read the book. Oops none remain. I do enjoy the outrage of the clones who let Limbaugh and Fox think for them. They probably mutter their talking points in their sleep. 'Palin put the jet on eBay...' zzzz

The fact that Ifill's book may have been no secret does not change the obvious conflict of interest that Ifill has by moderating a debate where she has monetary interest in one candidate winning. Let's not forget that the book is slated to come out on Inauguration day. How many copies will sell if Obama loses?
The fact that you in the media don't appear to get why this is a problem is exactly why you have such a credibility problem with the average American. Even the left-leaning Saturday Night Live players can see that.

Is Michael Calderone so niave as to think Ifill doesn't have a financial interest in seeing Obama win? Whether or not her "Obama" books sells is besides the point. The fact is taht she HOPES it will sell. That's enough of a conflict of interest for her to not modertae this debate.
If Peggy Noonan were the moderator and had written a flattering book about McCain, the Democrats would be going nuclear (correctly) that she could not be objective. It's the same thing.

Liberals..... Can you PLEASE just be honest for once? She should not be moderating the debate and should act like a professional and step down. But she won't.
But why no mention of her book when I checked out her website 2 days ago when I heard this Obama lover was going to moderate? Hmmmmmmm? Naw, nothing to hide.
If Bill O'Reilly was chosen to moderate the next debate would you be just a little ticked off and demand for a change of moderators? Be honest and say yes. And he is conservative "light". She is waaaaay to the left and she has let everyone know it (see the You Tube video).
But like some of you said, McCain's people missed it, which seems to be a common theme the past few weeks. So, I think they have to suck it up and just deal with it and let Palin be herself and she will do fine and us conservatives will be happy.

She is a political commentator. I would hope she is a registered voter, and supporter one of our nationally recognized parties, as I am sure most all journalists are. Tom Brokaw is a Republican, can he not be unbiased and fair? Should we put all journalists in a room, treat them like its jury selection, and ask, can you be fair and unbiased as a debate moderator? This is phony outrage. Next they'll be asking that the moderator be a foreign national, or better yet, a dog, so as not to inject any bias into the situation. Or might the dog prove biased, as Sarah Plain kills moose, and by way of them both being animals, surely the dog would be in the can for Biden. Lets just get onto the business of the debate and let the candidates prove who is up to the task of being Vice President. Enough bs already.

Spin, spin, spin!! Gimme a break, Mr. Calderone. If the moderator had written a gushing Sarah Palin bio, you and your cronies would be all over it like a dust sheet. How stupid do you people think we American voters are? This whole thing absolutely STINKS of conflict of interest.
So what if it was supposedly no secret? That's not the point. It's conflict of interest, period, and the story's sell-by date is irrelevant.
News flash: The story was covered in the OLD bird-feeder-liner media, which NO ONE pays any attention to anymore. IOW, the story is news to most of us out here in flyover country. And we are livid.
MSM bias is so over the top it is sickening. Here's hoping America wakes up and flushes Obama-Biden and their MSM flunkies down the memory hole.

"But one didn't have to go the lengths of oppo research to find out about a book that was hiding in plain sight on Amazon of the Random house website."
This seems to be an admission that Republicans should regard the mainstream press as opponents; I agree with this implication.

As an attorney, I would have to say this is not an impartial moderator. She should recuse herself. There is no way she could be impartial though she will try to give the appearance of impartiality. Then again, look how successful Obama has been hiding his true colors--a radical revolutionary who believes "from each according to his ability to each according to his needs." The American people have been deceived, first by the media, then by the DNC, by Obama himself, and now once again by a biased moderator. How long will it take for the people to wise up to the charade that is taking place in this campaign. So much distortion, lies, fraud, deception all to one end--to get this Obama elected. Why? Do any of you wonder as I do--WHY? Why are there such efforts to get a revolutionary left wing radical with sympathies for Muslims into the White House?

"It's not as if the veteran PBS journalist has been keeping the book under wraps until now."
Exactly. So why is this coming up less than 36 hours before Palin and Biden hit the stage? Because Michelle Malkin, FOX News and the extreme right are doing what they do best. Manufacturing EXTREME FAKE OUTRAGE about something that they all know THEY KNEW FULL WELL ABOUT This is their "trump card" that they've held onto and now they're showing their hand the day before the debate to try and win this battle, the battle being the VP debate. They want to cast doubt on moderator Gwen Ifill and create a perception problem over her, then that in essence would potentially force Gwen to go softer on Sarah Palin or she'd be running the risk of looking biased toward Obama.
If this whole right wing scheme weren't so dishonest and sinister it would be a genius move.

Let me say first that I admire Senator McCain's measured and respectful comments regarding Ms. Ifill's anticipated professionalism. With that said, it strikes me that the moderator and the Commission on Presidential Debates would wish to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, given the gravity of the circumstances. The fact that "it's not as if the veteran PBS journalist has been keeping the book under wraps until now" is, of course, completely irrelevant. A book titled with a reference to "The Age of Obama" is clearly more than just "a book with Obama in the title," in Mr. Calderone's phrase. The title suggests, rather, the naming of a political era in the Senator's honor by the moderator and/or her publisher.

Apparently, the most important question is not whether Gwen Ifill will be an objective moderator, but rather whether a sufficiently dubious question about Ifill's objectivity can be raised prior to the Republican VP candidate's performance. No offense intended to Republicans in general, but we must accept the existence of the Karl Rove-ian Best Methods that appear to have been in place for the last eight years, and are currently being employed by McCain operatives who call themselves patriotic Republicans.
To wit and I repeat myself; ?the best thing that can happen for the supported candidate in a political endeavor reliant on Karl Rove-ian techniques is that early in the process, based on party affiliation or non-issue based biases or preferences, each supporter strongly or weakly decides to vote for the target candidate and thereafter is never subjected to any new election information; 2nd preference - said supporter will automatically reject new election information critical of supported candidate based on a programmed perception that the source is illegitimate; 3rd preference ? any time the Rove-ian operative sees the potential by anyone even remotely connected to the adversary?s side for the commission of a bad act that the Rove-ian operative?s side has already committed or is in the process of committing, accuse the other side of the bad deed, preferably while bombastically displaying righteous indignation in the presence of the target voter.?
Of course, such ?Best Methods? are dependent on what appears to be a Karl Rove-ian view that implicitly and emphatically asserts the general and natural gullibility or prejudice of the American electorate. Again, in the words of Kurt Vonnegut, ?And so it goes.?

There are several issues regarding Ms. Ifill's writing of a book that appears to be favorable to one of the Presidential candidates and moderating a debate:
1) During the debate preparations (location, moderater, network, etc.) Ms. Ifill's upcoming book was not disclosed to the McCain campaign. It was Ms. Ifill's duty, as well as PBS's, to disclose this information at the outset. She, nor they, did.
2) Ms. Ifill penned an article for "Essence" magazine's September issue about Senator Obama. An article, Mr. Calerone, that Michelle Malkin referenced in her story but you left OUT.
3) Yes, why is this coming up 36 hours before the VPOTUS debate? Could it be another lack of vetting by those "journalists" covering the campaigns?
4) Now, regardless of "who won or lost the debate" that are sure to follow, Ms. Ifill's impartiality will always be raised by some. Journalists are not supposed to be part of the story. Because of her silence she is now part of the "story".

Turning against another professional journalist who happens to be a woman and black, Michelle Malkin seems to be carrying water for the McCain campaign. Even McCain stood up for Gwen Ifill. So, what's happening here? A Mutt and Jeff routine? As one of my snide acquaintances likes to say, "mercy me."

Republicans obviously knew about the book. They just could not believe the Democrats would be stupid enough to let such an obviously biased commentraitor be involved in the debate. A person who has an economic stake in the outcome of the election (selling more books) can hardly be thought to be unbiased, and based on the subject of the book obviously she was not to begin with. It seems that Democrats always shoot themselves in the head when given a chance to be fair, they will always choose to be unfair. This is just another example of the Democrats in their zeal to win they trample on everything that is fair. The ends never justify the means. Even if you lose you still win as long as you don't lose your sense of fair play. People who win at any cost are in it only for themselves, not for the overall good. You should always be fair, if not you show that you are untrustworthy - not worthy of any trust.

Fox's Greta Van Susteren: A former criminal and civil trial lawyer, did not research this? Per this article the book was "hiding in plain sight on Amazon and the Random house website."
...For a Month!?!?
Nothing "fair" or "balanced" about her statements on Fox News.

I am a conservative but haven't decided which candidate I am voting for yet, however this gwen iffel situation realy casts a bad light on the liberal media. Mind you the fact that this countries media has a liberal bent is nothing new, but to publish a book with a bias toward one of the tickets just before a major debate is really a new low! This is something that one would expect if MSNBC were hosting the debate, but I have always supported PBS and felt that they could be trusted! Should Ms. Iffel go on and moderate the debate tomorrow, I think that I will just decide to make a protest vote for McCain, even though I have never liked him, and he will likely do nothing to help those of us without medical insurance.

"I think Malkin and other critics have a right to raise questions about whether Ifill should be moderating, but at the same time, it's not as if the veteran PBS journalist has been keeping the book under wraps until now."
true, true, and unrelated to the issue. The issue is not conservative's or McCain's reaction, it is Ifill's ethics. Does this give the appearance of a confilct of interst? It seems even you feel the answer is yes. An ethical person interested in protecting the integrity of the debate process would step aside. The real questions are why did Iliff accept this position in the first place, and why won't step down now? what she feels or belives she can do is not the issue, her possible lack of objectivity taints the whole process. She has placed herself, her participation, above the broader interests of the nation. So again, it is not why so late, but rather why at all?

The book is called ?The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.? Just because Obama's name is on the book doesn't mean the book is all about him! Its about Politics and Race in this day and age. NOT about Obama!!! So how does that make her have a 'FINANCIAL INTEREST' in Obama? People having not read the book have already formed an oppinion about it.

Country How? - "Because Americans deserve to know that, should Biden emerge with an obvious advantage over Palin, it will be because the moderator asked questions in a "gotcha" manner at Palin but continually tossed softballs at Biden"?????
Sorry, but your argument fails. Check out the debate format, the same question is posed to BOTH candidates, so any supposed "softballs" Biden gets, Palin sill get as well. They each have 90 seconds to answer the question, and then 2 minutes to discuss between the two of them. They will alternate answering the question first, but both will answer the question, or theoretically should answer the question. I will be tallying up the number of dodges presented.

Why didn't the McCain complain about Jim Lehrer? He writes novels about fake Marine heroes and crazy Oklahoma politicians as well as non-fiction on the founding fathers. Obviously he is biased in favor of old white guys.